1. Sports Betting Online California
2. Online Sports Betting California Legal

California is one of the many US states that have not yet legalized sports betting – either online or in-person – in the wake of the Supreme Court's overturn of PASPA in 2018. However, there are rumblings in the CA legislature that domestic sports betting will be considered in the near future.

For now, to legally participate on online sports betting, California residents must either drive across the border into Nevada or use an offshore sportsbook like those listed here. You can learn more about the legalities of CA online sports betting by reading this short guide. After all, there's no time to lose on this gold rush!

Best Online Sportsbooks for California Sports Bettors

California Sports Betting Facts. While offline sports betting remains illegal in California, some form of gambling, such as poker, has been legal in California for over a century.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In California?

Yes! Sports betting in California does exist legally. While the state's racetracks, California poker rooms, and tribal California casino venues are not allowed to offer online sports betting or sports wagering in physical settings, current legislation allows California residents to place bets with an online sportsbook as long as that website is operated and hosted outside of the United States.

There are no state or federal laws that bar CA bettors from using offshore betting sites to place real money wagers on sports, and the best online sportsbooks all feature every California team as well as all US and international sports of import. Most online books support over two dozen sports betting markets, allowing you to legally wager on all the players, teams, and games you love. As long as you're at least 18 years of age, you can join, bet, and win today!

Online Sports Betting Options for California Bettors

There is an almost endless supply of daily sports wagering available at offshore betting sites, and because CA has the most professional and collegiate teams in the nation, the state is also home to the most sports bettors. Of course, CA is a melting pot, with residents from all over the world looking to wager real money not just on local teams or US sports, but international fare of all types. The best sites for legal online sports betting in California support the following markets, to name a few:

• The best California sports betting sites post lines on a number of different sports outside of the “big four.” NASCAR fans are as passionate as it gets, and online sportsbooks post odds on each driver to win the respective events. You can also place wagers on major IndyCar races.
• Sports Betting in California is not yet legal and licensed but there is good news ahead. The Golden State, has tried to regulate online betting multiple times in the past and are likely to try again soon.
• California residents may be able to bet on sports by jumping the border into Nevada, but this simply does not carry the convenience of the online sports gambling sites accepting California residents.

• NFL
• NBA
• MLB
• NHL
• MLS
• Boxing
• Golf
• MMA
• UFC
• Tennis
• Rugby
• Soccer
• Cricket
• Futsal
• Australian Football
• Canadian Football
• Table Tennis
• Cycling
• Volleyball
• Billiards
• Darts
• Virtual Sports
• eSports
• Sports Sims
• Olympics
• And more!

Many of these high quality online sportsbooks also offer California horse race betting, as well, though that's a racebook rather than a sportsbook product, technically speaking.

In the table above, you will find our recommended online California sportsbooks, each of which offers an extraordinary Internet sports betting experience, generous welcome bonuses, and USA friendly banking options including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Two of our favorite operators are discussed below.

Recommended California Sports Betting Sites

The most popular California online sports betting websites are run by Bovada and BetOnline, who also offer casino and poker room facilities, as well as full international racebooks. As an added incentive to visit their sites, both of these reputable operators offer valuable welcome bonuses that add real money to your bankroll so you can bet more and win more. This is one aspect of the California online sports betting environment that will always trump the brick-and-mortar experience, as land-based books cannot offer cash promotions.

The Future of Online Sports Betting in California

There are currently no land-based or state-licensed options for California bettors to engage in sports wagering activities. But with California online sports betting diverting otherwise taxable monies to non-American businesses, it would not be a surprise to see CA legalize the pastime in an effort to re-route all that gambling money to its own economy. Adding sports betting to the gambling menus at Native American casinos and California card rooms already in operation seems to be more of a matter of when, and not if.

California Professional Sports Teams

For those bettors who have strong allegiances to their state's professional sports teams, we've provided a list of the major California clubs as well as access to their official websites for easy access to schedules, breaking news, injury reports, and player and team stats. Using this information when engaging in California online sports betting will allow you to make informed decisions and win more of your wagers.

California is an exercise in frustration. Legal sports betting simply cannot get going in the Golden State. Most recently, a proposed ballot initiative failed to gain enough signatures to make it onto the ballot.

Past efforts for sports betting legalization have stalled without ever making it out of the legislative process. Time is also running exceedingly short for the measure to pass through the needed committees and be the subject of a full vote.

Moreover, the state’s powerful tribes — which generate approximately $8 billion annually – would potentially be in opposition to the legalization of sports betting as a form of gaming expansion within the state. Notably, various pieces of online poker legislation have experienced an abundance of opposition from the tribes over the last decade in California for similar reasons.

When will California sports betting be legal?

The possible launch date for legal California sports betting is unknown at the moment. There are two ongoing initiatives presently under consideration, both involving the state’s Indian tribes.

The first would legalize sports wagering at land-based Indian casinos and horse racing tracks exclusively. This plan would not include online/mobile wagering for the foreseeable future. This initiative is being advanced by the tribes themselves.

The second effort stems from the state’s legislature. Under that plan, online/mobile wagering would be made available on platforms affiliated with the tribal casinos and racetracks. This plan is opposed by the tribes because it would also allow the state’s cardrooms to continue offering the house-banked card games the tribes feel infringe on their exclusivity.

It’s possible that either or both measures are put on the ballot as early as in November 2020. However, for that to become reality, each will have to qualify for the ballot by June 25. The tribes’ initiative suffered a setback in their already advanced signature collection efforts for the ballot when the coronavirus pandemic led to widespread stay-at-home orders.

A lawsuit filed by the tribes with the Superior Court of the State of California on June 9 seeks to obtain an extension on the timeline needed to gather and verify the necessary signature to qualify the measure for the ballot this November.

How does California sports betting work?

There currently is no legal sports betting framework in California, although there are two initiatives under consideration.

Where can I bet on sports in California?

At the moment, there is no legal sports betting framework in California. Depending on which of the two competing initiatives eventually passes via voter referendum, bettors will either be limited to placing sports bets at Indian tribe brick-and-mortar casino locations and racetracks (the tribes’ initiative) or through online/mobile platforms associated with Indian tribe casinos and racetracks (legislative initiative).

How old do I have to be to place sports bets in California?

There is currently no legal sports betting in California. However, based on other gambling-related activities in the state, it would be reasonable to expect that bettors will have to be at least 21 years of age to place a bet whenever wagering is legalized.

How do I begin betting on sports in CA?

With no legal sports betting currently available in California, there is naturally no set policy and procedures in place for establishing a betting account in California.

However, following the model of other states, it’s expected that bettors will have to provide the following basic information to open an account:

• Name
• Age
• Address
• Phone number
• Social security number for tax purposes
• Valid e-mail address if online account

Sports Betting Online California

How do I withdraw my winnings?

Sports betting is not yet available in the state of California, and it remains to be seen if the initiative that allows online wagering will be the one that eventually is codified into law.

If online/mobile wagering is eventually available in California, it’s reasonable to expect that operators will offer the conventional withdrawal methods they typically make available in other states where legalized betting is already available.

These methods include:

• ACH/E-check
• Check
• Paypal
• Prepaid card supplied by the operator

However, if sports betting is limited to brick-and-mortar locations, then withdrawal options may be limited to checks or in-person withdrawals on site at sportsbooks.

Can I use my online sportsbook account outside of California?

Sports betting is not yet available in the state of California. If the measure being advanced by state’s Indian tribes is the proposal that is eventually voted on and passed, there would not be online wagering allowed. All bets under that plan as currently proposed would have to be made in person at the tribes’ brick-and-mortar casinos.

If the measure being advanced by the legislature is the one eventually voted on and passed, online wagering through platforms associated with tribal casinos and racetracks would be available. In this instance, bettors would physically have to be located within California – as verified by geolocation technology – in order to place a wager.

Will sports betting odds be competitive in California?

Naturally, it will be in the best interest of sportsbooks to offer competitive odds once sports betting is legalized in California. A principal factor will be what kind of tax rate and licensing fees operators are expected to pay under a legal sports betting framework.

What sports can I bet on in California?

If and when sports betting is legalized in California, it is expected that operators will be able to offer wagering on all major sports, as is the case in all other states already offering legalized wagering. That includes the following sports/leagues:

• NFL
• NBA
• MLB
• NHL
• CFL
• Golf
• Tennis
• NASCAR
• NCAA sports

Which California sports teams will I be able to bet on?

Should the state pass legal sports betting legislation, betting on the following teams, in addition to the major colleges, will likely be permitted:

• Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
• Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
• Oakland A’s (MLB)
• San Diego Padres (MLB)
• San Francisco Giants (MLB)
• Los Angeles Chargers (NFL)
• Los Angeles Rams (NFL)
• San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
• Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
• Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
• Golden State Warriors (NBA)
• Sacramento Kings (NBA)
• Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
• Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
• San Jose Sharks (NHL)

What types of bets can I make in California?

If and when sports betting is legalized in California, it is expected that bettors will have access to the following types of wagers:

• Moneyline: A wager on which team will win the game outright, regardless of margin of victory.
• Spreads: A bet based on the projected margin of victory that is set by oddsmakers.
• Totals: A bet on the combined score and whether it will be over or under a line set by sportsbooks.
• Futures: A bet on an outcome that has not yet happened.
• Parlays: A parlay is a bet that encompasses wagers on at least two separate sporting events. For a parlay wager to be deemed successful, all the bets that comprise it must be winning ones. If any wager within a parlay is a losing one, then the entire parlay is null and void.
• Props: Proposition wagers are bets that are typically based on metrics such as individual statistical milestones and team milestones.

In-game wagering and live betting

There is no specific indication at this point that in-game wagering and live betting will be prohibited under either of the active sports betting proposals in California. However, there’s always the possibility that outlook is altered before either measure is put up for a voter referendum.

What companies will offer sports betting?

It remains to be seen what companies/operators would be part of California’s sports betting market. If the initiative advanced by the tribes were to be the one that is codified into law, there would be no online sports betting options in California. As such, there may be a more limited number of companies involved in the market partnering with the tribes to run their brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.

However, if the legislative effort is the one that is eventually passed by voters, online/mobile betting would be made available to California residents. Under that scenario, there would be a substantial number of companies interested in entering the market, including:

Online Sports Betting California Legal

• BetAmerica
• theScore Bet

Where will California sports betting tax revenue go?

Without an official legal sports betting framework in place, there is no set breakdown of how tax revenue from sports betting would be allocated within California.

If the model from other states is generally followed, the bulk of the revenue will naturally go into California’s coffers, with small percentages potentially going toward problem gambling initiatives or administrative costs related to the oversight of the industry within the state.

Eilers and Krejcik project the legislative initiative would produce $503 million per year in revenue for the state when the market is fully mature, including $282 million during the first six months when factoring in expected licensing fees. Meanwhile, the tribes’ plan, which would not include online wagering, is projected to bring in approximately $200 million per year.